UMASS BOSTON VOLLEYBALL SPLITS IN LITTLE EAST TRI-MATCH

BOSTON, MA - The University of Massachusetts Boston volleyball team split a pair of matches in a Little East Conference tri-match, defeating Eastern Connecticut State University, 25-21, 25-16, 25-17, before falling to Keene State College, 25-23, 25-23, 22-25, 25-17, today at the Clark Athletic Center on the campus of UMass Boston. The win over Eastern Connecticut was the first in program-history for Beacons, who are now 9-7 overall and 1-1 in LEC play, and snapped a 12-match losing streak vs. the Warriors, dating back to October 24, 1997. Keene State also defeated Eastern Connecticut State, 25-21, 25-23, 25-21, during the day and is now 14-4 and 4-0, while Eastern Connecticut State is 7-7 and 2-2.

Freshman middle hitter Kristianna Ibsen (Shelton, CT) topped Eastern Connecticut with 10 kills and added two digs and a block, while freshman setter Samantha Slonski (Griswold, CT) directed the offense with 18 assists, led the defense with 10 digs and a block and put down three kills on a .500 hitting mark. Senior outside hitter Sandra Jaques (Milford, CT) also got down for 10 digs and added four kills.

McWhorter swung for 19 kills vs. Keene State to lead the Beacons and also came up with 14 digs and a pair of blocks, while White smashed eight kills, fired a pair of aces, scooped seven digs and added a block. Hanneman enjoyed an outstanding all-around match with a career-high 25 digs to go with 34 assists, three kills and a personal-best matching four aces. Sophomore outside hitter Nina Sullivan (Cheshire, CT) was efficient on the attack with a .304 hitting percentage on seven kills with no errors in 23 attempts and got down for three digs, while MacAuley was solid with 24 digs.

The O'Bryant sisters were an offensive force for Keene State as senior middle hitter Brittany O'Bryant put down a team-high 15 kills and added an ace, seven digs, and five total blocks, while freshman outside hitter Bridget O'Bryant spiked for 14 kills in addition to four digs. Junior setter Jordan Pokryfki (Wasilla, AK) set for 34 assists, got down for 14 digs, put up a block and put away a pair of kills and senior libero Sarah Peterson (Danville, NH) led the defense with a match-high 27 digs and added an ace and a kill.

Brittany O'Bryant came up big in the Owls' win over Eastern Connecticut with a match-high 17 kills and added five digs and three total blocks. Freshman middle hitter Ellyse Davis (Londonderry, NH) scored with nine kills and got up for a pair of blocks, while Pokryfki set for 29 assists, fired an ace, came up with seven digs and put down a kill. Peterson anchored the defense with 20 digs and also scored with three aces.

Ibsen led the Warriors' offensive effort with 10 kills and a match-high four aces and added two digs and three total blocks, while Slonski set for 23 assists and added four digs. Jaques was all over the floor with a match-best 30 digs and spiked for four kills, while freshman defensive specialist Taylor Abelli (Cheshire, CT) contributed with 19 digs and a pair of aces.

UMass Boston will be in action again on Friday, October 3 when it hosts Regis College (MA) at 6:00 p.m. at the Clark Athletic Center, while Eastern Connecticut travels to Madison, NJ on October 3 to compete in the Devils Classic, hosted by Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham. Keene State will head to Brunswick ME on October 3 to compete in the Midcoast Classic, hosted by Bowdoin College.